Barcelona v Bayern Munich: Champions League preview

In the second instalment of the Champions League semi-finals, Pep Guardiola makes his return to the ground where he triumphed both as a player and a coach as the limelight falls gracefully on him once more in a night that pits arguably the two most exciting teams in football against each other. Barcelona and Bayern Munich

The build up is surely to be dominated by the return of Barca's Golden Boy to the place where he won three league titles and two Champions Leagues in four seasons.

Pep has replicated this phenomenal form at Bayern Munich and boasts 20 trophies in his very short managerial career having retained the Bundesliga title recently; however, he is surely up against it tonight as a deteriorating Bayern squad will have to summon all of their guile and class to see off a rampant and impressive Barcelona.

Guardiola isn't going to have an easy ride at his old stomping ground as his squad has begun to deplete in fitness. Alaba and Robeen, two key players to Pep's plans are definitely unavailable through injury, along with centre back Badstuber.

To add insult to injury Robben's partner in crime Franck Ribery is also a doubt, with Lewandowski facing the possibility of playing in a face mask.

Barcelona's attacking threat

To say their opponents are playing well would be a massive understatement, and a frightening realisation considering they boast a forward line of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.

The trident in attack have been deadly of late and are probably the most dangerous and exciting forward line in football; a title that is surely to concern Guardiola in preparation for tonight's bout.

Barca enter the game having smashed Cordoba 8-0 at the weekend and are enjoying a real glut in front of goal.

Difficult task facing Pep Guardiola

The fact that Bayern went down 2-0 to an impressive Leverkusen doesn't read too well for a side who are looking to repeat their dismantling of Barcelona from the same stage in 2013's competition.

Looking at the game on paper, it's fair to believe that Barca may have too much energy and pace for what is looking like a tired Bayern Munich side; however the fact Die Bayern now possess the key to the majority of the Catalan giants success in recent years in the tactically astute Pep Guardiola and have won three of their last four Champions League appearances at the Camp Nou it could be a lot closer than what the stats may show.

Based on current form and the lack of pace and fitness in the Bayern side, it looks like Barcelona may have too much energy in the side and could expose Bayern on the flanks. Barca could strike now when the iron's hot and do most of their work at the Camp Nou.

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